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TAKE That star Howard Donald will swap performing with his bandmates for rebuilding classic cars in a new Channel 4 series.

The pop singer will join retired racing driver Dario Franchitti for Mission Ignition, which will see amateur car enthusiasts tasked with rebuilding classic cars in a bid to win the motor.

They will each lead a team of petrolheads as they rebuild the cars, which will have been turned into giant jigsaw puzzles. The first team to rebuild it and start the engine will get to keep the car.

Donald, 50, a classic car collector, famously left his job as a panel beater and vehicle sprayer to join Take That nearly 30 years ago. He is one of the three remaining members of the group, along with Gary Barlow and Mark Owen.

As well as his continuing career with the most successful boy band in UK chart history, Donald is now an amateur racing driver as well, and has raced at the likes of Le Mans and Silverstone in cars such as the Porsche 911 GT2 and an Austin A30.

He said: ‘I’ve always loved classic cars, so the opportunity to be involved in Mission Ignition and see these historic cars rebuilt is fantastic.’

Franchitti is a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time IndyCar Series champion.

It is the first terrestrial commission for new indie production company East Media, and managing director Nathan Eastwood said: ‘There is no show on TV that looks like this. We’ve got amazing and passionate talent in Dario and Howard, and I can’t wait for everyone to watch and enjoy the series. The show is packed with take-out, genuine, edge-of-the-seat tension with a dream prize at the end.’

The series, which will consist of four 60-minute episodes and has yet to be given a transmission start date, was ordered by Channel 4 head of formats Dom Bird and commissioning editor for formats Jonny Rothery, who said: ‘Watching the two teams battling it out for the keys to some beautiful classics is truly gripping. It’s not just a show for wannabe mechanics but for anyone who loves watching passionate people on screen.’